Fin for heat exchanger, guide, and method of using the guide

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger-use fin includes a fin body, collars and erect portions. The fin body has a plurality of holes. The collars surround the holes. The collars are disposed between two straight lines on a surface of the fin body. Outer peripheries of the collars contact the straight lines. The erect portions are positioned outside the two straight lines. Distal ends of the erect portions are in higher positions than distal ends of the collars relative to the surface of the fin body. A guide used with the fin includes first and second alternately arranged grooves. The second grooves are deeper than the first grooves. A method of using the guide includes slidably fitting the collars into one of the first grooves, and fitting the erect portions into the second groove adjacent to the first groove having the collars fitted therein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger-use fin and a guidethat is used in the heat exchanger-use fin.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, in a heat exchanger-use fin, in order to raise the heatexchange efficiency of the heat exchanger-use fin, part of the fin iscut and raised to dispose erect portions or slits and louvers aredisposed around holes into which heat transfer tubes are inserted.Further, annular collars that surround those holes are erected on theheat exchanger-use fin.

In a conventional heat exchanger-use fin, distal ends of the erectportions have been in lower positions than distal ends of the collar.This is because, when plural heat exchanger-use fins are stacked on topof each other, the fin that has been stacked on top is supported by thecollars.

Technologies relating to the present invention are indicated below.

-   -   Patent Document 1: JP-A No. S61-110889    -   Patent Document 2: JP-A No. H11-166796    -   Patent Document 3: JP-A No. 2001-227890

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION <Technical Problem>

However, even when the erect portions are disposed on the heatexchanger-use fin, heat exchange efficiency cannot be raised that muchunless only erect portions that are low in terms of their relationshipwith the collars can be disposed.

The present invention has been made in view of the aforementionedcircumstances, and it is an object thereof to raise heat exchangeefficiency.

<Solution to the Problem>

A heat exchanger-use fin pertaining to a first aspect of the inventionis a fin attached to heat transfer tubes and is equipped with a finbody, a plurality of collars and erect portions. The fin body extends ina predetermined direction, and plural holes into which the heat transfertubes are inserted are disposed in the fin body along the predetermineddirection. The collars are erected surrounding the holes, such that onecollar surrounds each hole, on the same side with respect to the finbody. When the fin is seen from the collars side, the collars are alldisposed between two straight lines that extend along the predetermineddirection on a surface of the fin body, and outer peripheries of thecollars contact the two straight lines. The erect portions are erectedon the fin body on the same side as the collars and are positionedoutside the two straight lines. Distal ends of the erect portions are inhigher positions than distal ends of the collars when seen from thesurface.

A heat exchanger pertaining to a second aspect of the inventioncomprises: the heat exchanger-use fin according to the first aspect ofthe invention; and heat transfer tubes that are inserted into the holesdisposed in the heat exchanger-use fin.

A guide pertaining to a third aspect of the invention is a guide that isused in the heat exchanger-use fin pertaining to the first aspect of theinvention, wherein first and second grooves that extend in a certaindirection are disposed. The first and second grooves are disposedalternately in a direction perpendicular to that direction. The secondgrooves are deeper than the first grooves.

A guide pertaining to a fourth aspect of the invention is the guidepertaining to the third aspect of the invention, wherein a depth of thefirst grooves is substantially equivalent to a height of the collarswhen seen from the surface of the fin body.

A guide pertaining to a fifth aspect of the invention is the guidepertaining to the third or fourth aspect of the invention, wherein adepth of the second grooves is larger than a height of the erectportions when seen from the surface of the fin body.

A guide use method pertaining to a sixth aspect of the invention is amethod of using the guide pertaining to any one of the third to fifthaspects of the invention. The guide use method comprises: slidablyfitting the plurality of collars belonging to the same heatexchanger-use fin into one of the first grooves in the guide; andfitting, into the second groove that is adjacent to the first groove,the erect portions belonging to the same heat exchanger-use fin as thecollars that fit into that first groove.

A guide use method pertaining to a seventh aspect of the invention isthe method pertaining to the sixth aspect of the invention, furthercomprising evacuating air in a space that is enclosed by the collarsthat belong to the same heat exchanger-use fin and are mutually adjacentin a predetermined direction and by an inner wall of the first groove.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the heat exchanger-use fin pertaining to the first aspectof the invention, the distal ends of the erect portions are in higherpositions than the distal ends of the collars, so in a heat exchangerobtained by attaching that heat exchanger-use fin to heat transfertubes, air flowing into that heat exchanger can be efficiently agitated.Thus, heat exchange efficiency rises.

Moreover, because the plurality of collars are slidably sandwiched byguides that extend on the two straight lines, the heat exchanger-use fincan be moved to a predetermined position. Moreover, because the erectportions are positioned outside those two straight lines, it is easy forthe space between the collars that are mutually adjacent in thepredetermined direction to be placed in a substantially hermeticallysealed state by the two guides that sandwich the collars.

According to the heat exchanger pertaining to the second aspect of theinvention, air flowing into the heat exchanger can be efficientlyagitated, so heat exchange efficiency is high.

According to the guide pertaining to the third aspect of the invention,the guide can be used in a heat exchanger-use fin that is equipped withthe erect portions where the positions of its distal ends are higherthan the positions of the distal ends of the collars.

According to the guide pertaining to the fourth aspect of the invention,when the plurality of collars belonging to the same heat exchanger-usefin are fitted into one of the first grooves, the space between thecollars that are mutually adjacent in the predetermined direction can beplaced in a substantially hermetically sealed state by those collars andan inner wall of the first groove. By lowering the air pressure in thisspace, the heat exchanger-use fin can be drawn to the guide even withoutholding the heat exchanger-use fin from the opposite side of the guide.Thus, the heat exchanger-use fin is easy to handle in the manufacturingprocess.

According to the guide pertaining to the fifth aspect of the invention,the erect portions can be prevented from contacting the guide when theerect portions are fitted in the second grooves.

According to the guide use method pertaining to the sixth aspect of theinvention, by fitting and sliding the plurality of collars belonging tothe same heat exchanger-use fin in one of the first grooves, that heatexchanger-use fin can be moved to a predetermined position. Because thefirst grooves are plurally disposed in the guide, plural heatexchanger-use fins can be moved in parallel to predetermined positions.Moreover, because the erect portions fit in the second grooves, it isdifficult for the movement of the heat exchanger-use fins to be hinderedby the erect portions.

According to the guide use method pertaining to the seventh aspect ofthe invention, the air pressure in the space can be lowered byevacuating the air in that space. Thus, the heat exchanger-use fin isdrawn to the guides.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a heat exchanger-use finpertaining to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section at position II-II shown inFIG. 1 as seen in a predetermined direction 91.

FIG. 3 is a diagram used in the description of a guide 20.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cross section at position IV-IV shown inFIG. 3 as seen in the predetermined direction 91.

FIG. 5 is a diagram used in the description of a guide 2 pertaining to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cross section at position VI-VI shown inFIG. 5 as seen in the predetermined direction 91.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 Heat Exchanger-Use Fin-   2 Guide-   11 Fin Body-   12 Holes-   13 Collars-   14 Erect Portions-   21 First Grooves-   21 a Inner Walls-   22 Second Grooves-   91 Predetermined Direction-   101, 102 Straight Lines-   111 Surface-   131 Outer Peripheries-   132, 141 Distal Ends-   301 Spaces-   D1, D2 Depths-   h1, h2 Heights

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a heat exchanger-use fin 1pertaining to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing across section at position II-II shown in FIG. 1 as seen in apredetermined direction 91.

The heat exchanger-use fin 1 is a heat exchanger-use fin attached toheat transfer tubes and is equipped with a fin body 11, plural collars13 and erect portions 14 and 15.

The heat exchanger-use fin 1 is obtained by working a single sheet ofheat transfer material, for example. Specifically, the collars 13 areobtained by, for example, pressing the sheet of heat transfer material.The erect portions 14 and 15 are obtained by cutting and raising andworking the sheet of heat transfer material.

The fin body 11 extends in the predetermined direction 91, and pluralholes 12 into which the heat transfer tubes are inserted are disposed inthe fin body 11. The plural holes 12 are disposed along thepredetermined direction 91.

The plural collars 13 are all annular and are disposed on the same sidewith respect to the fin body 11. The collars 13 are erected surroundingthe holes 12 such that one collar 13 surrounds each hole 12.

When the heat exchanger-use fin 1 is seen from the collars 13 side, thecollars 13 are all disposed in the following state. That is, the collars13 are disposed between two straight lines 101 and 102 that extend inthe predetermined direction 91 on a surface 111 of the fin body 11.Additionally, outer peripheries 131 of the collars 13 contact thestraight lines 101 and 102.

The erect portions 14 are erected on the fin body 11 on the same side asthe collars 13 and are positioned outside the two straight lines 101 and102. The erect portions 14 are not in positions on the straight lines101 and 102. Distal ends 141 (positions r1) of the erect portions 14 arein higher positions than distal ends 132 (positions r2) of the pluralcollars 13 when seen from the surface 111 (FIG. 2).

The erect portions 15 are erected on the fin body 11 on the same side asthe collars 13 and are positioned between the two straight lines 101 and102. The erect portions 15 are not in positions on the straight lines101 and 102. Distal ends 151 of the erect portions 15 are in lowerpositions than the distal ends 132 of the collars 13 when seen from thesurface 111 (FIG. 2).

A guide 20 that is used in the heat exchanger-use fin 1 will bedescribed using FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a crosssection at position IV-IV shown in FIG. 3 as seen in the predetermineddirection 91 and shows the guide 20 in a state where it is used in theheat exchanger-use fin 1.

The guide 20 includes guide portions 201 and 202 and a connectingportion 203. In FIG. 3, the positions where the guide portions 201 and202 are disposed are indicated by hatching. Specifically, the guideportions 201 and 202 respectively extend along the straight lines 101and 102 and slidably sandwich the plural collars 13. By sliding thecollars 13 between the guides 201 and 202, the heat exchanger-use fin 1can be moved to a predetermined position.

Because the erect portions 14 and 15 are not in positions on thestraight lines 101 and 102 as mentioned above, it is easy to dispose theguide portions 201 and 202 respectively on the straight lines 101 and102.

The connecting portion 203 interconnects the guide portions 201 and 202on the opposite side of the fin body 11. The collars 13 sandwiched bythe guides 201 and 202 are blocked off by the connecting portion 203 onthe opposite side of the fin body 11.

The guide portions 201 and 202 contact the surface 111 of the fin body11 (FIG. 4). The connecting portion 203 contacts the collars 13 (FIG.4). Thus, there are no longer gaps between the guide portions 201 and202 and the fin body 11 and between the collars 13 and the connectingportion 203.

Thus, a space 301 (indicated by hatching in FIG. 3) between the collars13 that are mutually adjacent in the predetermined direction 91 can beplaced in a substantially hermetically sealed state by the guideportions 201 and 202 and the connecting portion 203. Because the erectportions 14 are positioned outside of the two straight lines 101 and102, the erect portions 14 do not hinder the connecting portion 203 fromcontacting the collars 13.

Because the space 301 is placed in a substantially hermetically sealedstate by the guide 20, air in the space 301 can be evacuated to lowerthe air pressure in the space 301. Thus, the heat exchanger-use fin 1can be drawn to the guide 20 even without holding the heat exchanger-usefin 1 from the opposite side of the guide 20. Thus, the heatexchanger-use fin 1 is easy to handle in the manufacturing process.

A heat exchanger can be obtained by inserting heat transfer tubes intothe plural holes 12 disposed in the aforementioned heat exchanger-usefin 1.

According to the aforementioned heat exchanger-use fin 1, the distalends 141 of the erect portions 14 are in higher positions than thedistal ends 132 of the collars 13, so air flowing into the heatexchanger can be efficiently agitated. Thus, heat exchange efficiencyrises.

Second Embodiment

In the present embodiment, a guide 2 that is used in the heatexchanger-use fin 1 that has been described in the first embodiment willbe described using FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing across section at position VI-VI shown in FIG. 5 as seen in thepredetermined direction 91 and shows the guide 2 in a state where it isused in a plurality of the heat exchanger-use fins 1.

The heat exchanger-use fins 1 all extend along the predetermineddirection 91 and are respectively arranged in a direction 93. The guide2 is used in these plural heat exchanger-use fins 1. Here, the direction93 is perpendicular to the predetermined direction 91 and is along thesurface 111 of the fin body 11.

The guide 2 is, as its members, equipped with a plurality of the guides20 (hereinafter called “the guide members 20”) that have been describedin the first embodiment and connecting portions 204. In FIG. 5, likewhat is shown in FIG. 3, the positions where the guide portions 201 and202 of the guide 2 are disposed are indicated by hatching.

The guide members 20 are plurally disposed along the direction 93 suchthat one each corresponds to each of the plural heat exchanger-use fins1. Specifically, the plurality of collars 13 belonging to the same heatexchanger-use fins 1 are sandwiched by the guide portions 201 and 202belonging to the same guide members 20.

Thus, the collars 13 of one of the heat exchanger-use fins 1 slidebetween the guide portions 201 and 202 of one of the guide members 20(FIG. 5). Because the guide 2 is equipped with a plurality of the guidemembers 20, a plurality of the heat exchanger-use fins 1 can be moved inparallel to predetermined positions by the guide 2.

Spaces enclosed by the guide portions 201 and 202 and the connectingportions 203 belonging to the same guide members 20 can be understood asfirst grooves 21 (FIG. 6) disposed in the guide 2. Because the guides201 and 202 extend along the predetermined direction 91, the firstgrooves 21 can be understood as extending in the predetermined direction91.

Additionally, in view of the fact that the plurality of collars 13belonging to the same heat exchanger-use fin 1 are sandwiched by andslide between the guide portions 201 and 202 belonging to the same guidemember 20, it can be understood that the plurality of collars 13belonging to the same heat exchanger-use fin 1 are slidably fitted intoone of the first grooves 21.

A depth D1 of the first grooves 21 is substantially equivalent to aheight h1 of the collars 31 when seen from the surface 111 of the finbody 11 (FIG. 6). Thus, when the plurality of collars 13 belonging tothe same heat exchanger-use fin 1 are fitted into one of the firstgrooves 21, it is difficult for a gap to form between the distal ends132 of the collars 13 and an inner wall 21 a of the first groove 21.

Thus, the spaces 301 (indicated by hatching in FIG. 5) between thecollars that are mutually adjacent in the predetermined direction 91 canbe placed in a substantially hermetically sealed state by the collars 13and the inner walls 21 a of the first grooves 21.

By placing the spaces 301 in a substantially hermetically sealed state,for example, air in the spaces 301 can be evacuated to lower the airpressure in the spaces 301. Thus, the heat exchanger-use fins 1 can bepulled to the guide 2 even without holding the heat exchanger-use fins 1from the opposite side of the guide 2. Thus, the heat exchanger-use fins1 are easy to handle in the manufacturing process.

The connecting portions 204 interconnect the guides 20 that are mutuallyadjacent in the direction 93. Specifically, the connecting portions 204interconnect the connecting portions 203 of the guide members 20. Theerect portions 14 fit in spaces that are enclosed by the guide members20 that are mutually adjacent in the direction 93 and by the connectingportions 204.

Spaces enclosed by the guide portions 201 and 202 that belong todifferent guide members 20 and are mutually adjacent in the direction 93and by the connecting portions 204 can be understood as second grooves22 (FIG. 6) disposed in the guide 2. Because the guide members 20 areplurally disposed along the direction 93 and the guides 201 and 202extend along the predetermined direction 91, the second grooves 22 canbe understood as extending in the predetermined direction 91 and beingdisposed alternately with the first grooves 21 in the direction 93.

Additionally, in view of the fact that the erect portions 14 fit in thespaces enclosed by the guide members 20 that are mutually adjacent inthe direction 93 and by the connecting portions 204, the erect portions14 belonging to the same heat exchanger-use fins 1 as the collars 13that fit into the first grooves 21 can be understood as being fitted inthe second grooves 22 that are adjacent to the first grooves 21.

Surfaces 204 a of the connecting portions 204 on the fin body 11 sideare further withdrawn toward the opposite side of the fin body 11 thansurfaces 203 a of the connecting portions 203 on the fin body 11 side(FIG. 6). To describe this using the first and second grooves 21 and 22,the second grooves 22 are deeper than the first grooves 21. According tothis aspect, it is difficult for the distal ends 141 of the erectportions 14 to contact the surfaces 204 a of the connecting portions204.

In FIG. 6, a case is shown where a depth D2 of the second grooves 22 islarger than a height h2 of the erect portions 14 when seen from thesurface 111 of the fin body 11. According to this configuration, theerect portions 14 do not contact the guide 2.

When the guide 2 is removed from the heat exchanger-use fins 1 and seen,the guide 2 can be understood as follows. That is, in the guide 2, thefirst and second grooves 21 and 22 that extend in a certain directionare disposed alternately in a direction perpendicular to that direction.

1. A heat exchanger-use fin comprising: a fin body extending in apredetermined direction and having a plurality of holes arranged alongthe predetermined direction, each hole being configured to receive aheat transfer part therein; a plurality of annular collars extendingfrom the fin body and surrounding the holes such that one of the collarssurrounds each hole on a same side of the fin body; and a plurality oferect portions extending from the fin body on the same side as thecollars, the collars being disposed between two straight lines thatextend along the predetermined direction on a surface of the fin body,with outer peripheries of the collars contacting the two straight linesas viewed from a collar side of the fin body, the erect portions beingpositioned outside the two straight lines, and the erect portions havingdistal ends that are in higher positions than distal ends of the collarsrelative to the surface of the fin body.
 2. A heat exchanger includingthe heat exchanger-use fin according to claim 1, the heat exchangerfurther comprising: a plurality of heat transfer tubes inserted into theholes the heat exchanger-use fin.
 3. A guide used with the heatexchanger-use fin according to claim 1, wherein the guide includes firstand second grooves that extend in a first direction and are alternatelyarranged along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,with the second grooves being deeper than the first grooves.
 4. Theguide according to claim 3, wherein a depth of the first grooves of theguide is substantially equivalent to a height of the collars relative tothe surface of the fin body.
 5. The guide according to claim 3, whereina depth of the second grooves of the guide is larger than a height ofthe erect portions relative to the surface of the fin body.
 6. A methodof using the guide according to claim 3, the method comprising: slidablyfitting the plurality of collars of the heat exchanger-use fin into oneof the first grooves of the guide; and fitting the erect portions of theheat exchanger-use fin into the second groove that is adjacent to thefirst groove having the plurality of collars slidably fitted therein. 7.The method according to claim 6, further comprising evacuating air froma space that is enclosed by the collars of the heat exchanger-use finmutually adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction and aninner wall of the first groove.
 8. The guide according to claim 4,wherein a depth of the second grooves of the guide is larger than aheight of the erect portions relative to the surface of the fin body. 9.A method of using the guide according to claim 8, the method comprising:slidably fitting the plurality of collars of the heat exchanger-use fininto one of the first grooves of the guide; and fitting the erectportions of the heat exchanger-use fin into the second groove that isadjacent to the first groove having the plurality of collars slidablyfitted therein.
 10. The method according to claim 9, further comprisingevacuating air from a space that is enclosed by the collars of the heatexchanger-use fin mutually adjacent to each other in the predetermineddirection and an inner wall of the first groove.
 11. A method of usingthe guide according to claim 4, the method comprising: slidably fittingthe plurality of collars of the heat exchanger-use fin into one of thefirst grooves of the guide; and fitting the erect portions of the heatexchanger-use fin into the second groove that is adjacent to the firstgroove having the plurality of collars slidably fitted therein.
 12. Themethod according to claim 11, further comprising evacuating air from aspace that is enclosed by the collars of the heat exchanger-use finmutually adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction and aninner wall of the first groove.
 13. A method of using the guideaccording to claim 5, the method comprising: slidably fitting theplurality of collars of the heat exchanger-use fin into one of the firstgrooves of the guide; and fitting the erect portions of the heatexchanger-use fin into the second groove that is adjacent to the firstgroove having the plurality of collars slidably fitted therein.
 14. Themethod according to claim 13, further comprising evacuating air from aspace that is enclosed by the collars of the heat exchanger-use finmutually adjacent to each other in the predetermined direction and aninner wall of the first groove.